Effect of nimodipine on cerebral metabolism during ischemia and recirculation in the mongolian gerbil

The effect of nimodipine on cerebral metabolism during ischemia and reflow was studied in female mongolian gerbils. Animals were divided into three experimental groups. Group 1 received 1 mg/kg nimodipine i.p. 1 h prior to ischemia. Group 2 received an injection of the vehicle, 5% polyethylene glycol 400. Group 3 received an equal volume of normal saline. Cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 1, 2, or 5 min. Recirculation was established for 0, 1, or 5 min. Sham-operated animals served as nonischemic controls. Gerbils were killed by microwave irradiation. Regional levels of ATP, phosphocreatine, glucose, glycogen, cyclic AMP, and cyclic GMP were measured in brain extracts using standard assay techniques. Levels of metabolites in sham-operated animals did not differ among Groups 1, 2, and 3. At 1 min of ischemia, cortical and striatal ATP levels were highest in Group 1 (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively). After 5 min of recirculation, cortical and striatal glucose levels were highest in Group 1 (p less than 0.005). Regional levels of the metabolites measured at other times did not differ significantly among the three groups. Pretreatment with nimodipine thus retards the fall in ATP and facilitates the recovery of glucose in mongolian gerbils subjected to common carotid artery occlusion. A regional variability of this effect was observed.     

Effect of calcium entry blocker, nimodipine, on the cerebral function and metabolic recovery following experimental cerebral ischemia

Ischemic deporalization of cell membranes is associated with a precipitous influx of calcium from the extracellular to the intracellular compartment, and it is suggested that increased intracellular calcium in ischemic brain leads to an activation of phospholipase and to increase of the concentration of free fatty acids, in particular arachidonic acid, with energy depletion. The objective of the present study is to test whether calcium entry blocker, nimodipine, prevent increase of free fatty acids and metabolic disturbances during ischemic period, and promote functional and metabolic recovery after recirculation. Severe forebrain ischemia in rats was induced by four-vessel occlusion with reducing the systolic arterial pressure to 100 mmHg. After forebrain ischemia had been maintained for 30 minutes, recirculation was started by removal of the arterial clamps of bilateral common carotid arteries and by increasing systemic blood pressure to the preischemic level. The EEG was continuously recorded from gold-coated screws inserted bilaterally in the parietal bones with the tips in extradural position, against a reference inserted prefrontal bone. Analysis of power spectrum of EEG activity was done by Berg Fourier Analyser. The brain were frozen in situ with liquid nitrogen before, during and after ischemia and then chiselled out during irrigation with liquid nitrogen. Concentrations of ATP, ADP, AMP and free fatty acids in brain tissue were determined with high performance liquid chromatography. Nimodipine, 10 micrograms/kg, was given intravenously 2-3 minutes before induction of ischemia, and an infusion of 1 microgram/kg/min was continued during ischemic and postischemic periods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of the calcium antagonist nimodipine on local cerebral blood flow and metabolic coupling

The effects of a continuous infusion of the calcium antagonist nimodipine (1 microgram kg-1 min-1) on local CBF (LCBF) and local cerebral glucose utilisation (LCGU) were studied, using the quantitative autoradiographic [14C]iodoantipyrine and [14C]2-deoxyglucose techniques in 34 anatomically discrete regions of the brain in lightly restrained, conscious rats. The infusion of nimodipine at this concentration produced only a small (8%) reduction in the MABP. The administration of nimodipine did not alter the rate of glucose utilisation in any of the regions examined. By contrast, in 24 regions, CBF was increased significantly by 39-84% from control levels (for example, cerebral cortices, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and most thalamic nuclei). In vehicle-treated animals, there was an excellent correlation (p less than 0.01) between the local levels of CBF and glucose utilisation, with the ratio of flow to glucose use being approximately 1.5 ml mumol-1 in each brain region. During nimodipine treatment, there was a similarly excellent correlation (p less than 0.01) between LCBF and LCGU, but the median ratio between local flow and glucose use increased to 2.5 ml mumol-1.     

Effect of the calcium antagonist nimodipine on the delayed hypoperfusion following incomplete ischemia in the rat

Regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured autoradiographically in the recovery period following 15 min of forebrain ischemia in rats pretreated with either nimodipine (0.1 mg kg-1) or vehicle. The results showed that although nimodipine increased postischemic CBF, the flow enhancement was regionally heterogeneous, sometimes resulting in zones of gross hypoperfusion and overt hyperemia within the same structures. This patchy improvement of delayed postischemic hypoperfusion was not accompanied by recovery of sensory evoked responses, and return of EEG activity was not enhanced.     

钙拮抗剂对大鼠缺血性脑损伤后Bcl-2和Bax基因表达的作用

目的探讨大鼠实验性脑缺血后海马组织Bcl-2和Bax基因的表达及尼莫地平预处理对Bcl-2和Bax基因表达的影响。方法采用线栓法建立大鼠脑缺血模型；尼莫地平预处理；逆转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)法测定其海马组织中Bcl-2和Bax mRNA。结果大鼠大脑中动脉阻断(MCAO)后，海马组织Bcl-2和Bax基因均被诱导表达，Bcl-2表达量持续升高，而Bax表达量在脑缺血24h达高峰，随后逐渐下降。在脑缺血后6h和24h，经尼莫地平预处理7d的大鼠，海马组织Bcl-2基因的表达水平较未经预处理的大鼠明显上调，而Bax基因表达水平则较未经预处理的大鼠明显下调。结论钙拮抗剂尼莫地平能有效地调控大鼠缺血性脑损伤后海马组织Bcl-2和Bax基因表达的水平，为干预脑卒中后基因表达提供依据。     

Neuronal damage and calcium accumulation following repeated brief cerebral ischemia in the gerbil

We investigated the distribution of neuronal damage following brief cerebral transient ischemia and repeated ischemia at 1-h intervals in the gerbil, using light microscopy and 45Ca autoradiography as a marker for detection of ischemic damage. The animals were allowed to survive for 7 days after ischemia induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion. Following 2-min ischemia, neuronal damage determined by abnormal calcium accumulation was not observed in the forebrain regions. Following 3-min ischemia, however, abnormal calcium accumulation was recognized only in the hippocampal CA1 sector and part of the striatum. Two 2-min ischemic insults caused extensive abnormal calcium accumulation in the dorsolateral part of striatum, the hippocampal CA1 sector, the thalamus, the substantia nigra and the inferior colliculus. The ischemic insults were more severe than that of a single 3-min ischemia. However, three 1-min ischemic insults caused abnormal calcium accumulation only in the striatum. On the other hand, three 2-min ischemic insults caused severe abnormal calcium accumulation in the brain. The abnormal calcium accumulation was found in the dorsolateral part of striatum, the hippocampal CA1 sector, the thalamus, the medial geniculate body, the substantia nigra and the inferior colliculus. Gerbils subjected to three 3-min ischemic insults revealed most severe abnormal calcium accumulation. Marked calcium accumulation was seen not only in the above sites, but also spread in the neocortex, the septum and the hippocampal CA3 sector. Morphological study after transient or repeated ischemia indicated that the distribution and frequency of the neuronal damage was found in the sites corresponding to most of the regions of abnormal calcium accumulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of nimodipine on acute focal cerebral ischemia

Nimodipine is a calcium slow channel blocker with several pharmacologic properties suggesting the potential to favorably modify outcome in focal cerebral ischemia. Thirty adult cats underwent unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion for 4 hours. Seventeen cats were treated with an ipsilateral intracarotid infusion of nimodipine (1 microgram kg-1 min -1) beginning 15 minutes before MCA occlusion and continuing throughout the occlusion period. Eight nimodipine treated cats maintaining MAP greater than 90 mmHg were assigned to a Higher Pressure Nimodipine (HPN) group. The remaining nine treated cats with MAP less than 90 mmHg were assigned to the Lower Pressure Nimodipine (LPN) group. Thirteen cats were untreated, receiving an isovolumetric amount of vehicle through the ipsilateral carotid artery. Local cerebral blood flow (ICBF) was continuously monitored using thermal diffusion probes. The brains, assessed for colloidal carbon perfusion, fluorescein and Evans blue staining, electroencephalographic activity (EEG), and histological changes, revealed no significant differences by any of these methods between the HPN and control animals with the exceptions of: HPN treated cats exhibited a preservation of EEG activity at 15 minutes post-occlusion compared to the untreated cats, and Post-ischemic surface colloidal carbon perfusion was better preserved in the treated cats than in the untreated cats. Mild hypotension, as demonstrated by the LPN group, negated these two positive effects. Prior to MCA occlusion, ICBF was bilaterally significantly increased after nimodipine infusion in the HPN group as compared to vehicle infusion. Intra-arterially infused nimodipine did not reduce infarct size.     

Hyperventilation-induced cerebral ischemia in panic disorder and effect of nimodipine.

Basilar artery blood flow was measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography before and during hyperventilation in nine patients with panic disorder and nine normal comparison subjects. The hyperventilation-induced decrease in basilar artery blood flow was significantly greater in patients with panic attacks than in comparison subjects. Two patients with decreases in basilar flow greater than 80% were successfully treated with nimodipine, a centrally active calcium channel blocker.     

Effect of pretreatment with the calcium antagonist nimodipine on local cerebral blood flow and histopathology after middle cerebral artery occlusion

We used the [¹⁴C]iodoantipyrine autoradiography technique to study the effect of pretreatment with the calcium antagonist nimodipine on local cerebral blood flow (1CBF) in rats that underwent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. In untreated control animals there were profound localized reductions in 1CBF 30 minutes after MCA occlusion. These were most pronounced in neocortical areas and in the caudate nucleus ipsilateral to the MCA occlusion. In animals pretreated with nimodipine (1 μg · kg^?1 · min^?1 for 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after MCA occlusion), the ipsilateral decrease in 1CBF in cortical regions was significantly less than that in control animals. The drug did not appear to alter 1CBF in the ipsilateral caudate nucleus. Neuropathological quantification of the ischemic damage present 3 hours after occlusion showed thai: nimodipine pretreatment reduced the volume and extent of cellular damage in the periphery but not in the core of the lesion.     

The effects of a calcium antagonist (nimodipine) on basal cerebral blood flow and reactivity to various agonists

In vitro studies suggest that cerebrovascular contraction is more dependent on the influx of calcium to smooth muscle than general systemic arteries. The present study tested the in vivo effects of a calcium influx blocker (nimodipine) on cerebral blood flow and metabolism in 16 baboons. The 133xenon clearance technique was used together with careful control of EEG and blood gases. With normal blood gases intravenous nimodipine infusion (1 microgram/kg/min) produced an 18% increase in cerebral blood flow with no alteration in cerebral oxidative metabolism or blood pressure. Higher doses (above 10 micrograms/kg/min) resulted in a decreased arterial blood pressure and a return to control cerebral flow. Infusion of the dose producing maximal increase in flow, decreased the cerebral reactivity to altered PCO2 (n = 5). These results suggest that nimodipine may be a relatively selective cerebrovascular dilator.     

In vivo binding of nimodipine in the brain: I. The effect of focal cerebral ischemia

We report the regional variation in [3H]nimodipine binding in vivo during focal cerebral ischemia. After intravenous injection, 30 min of circulation of [3H]nimodipine was sufficient to establish a secular equilibrium of distribution in the brain. Rats sustained left middle cerebral and common carotid artery occlusions for 5 min, and 4, 24, and 48 h (n greater than or equal to 6 epr group). They were decapitated 30 min after injection of 250 microCi of [3H]nimodipine and their brains were submitted to autoradiography. The concentrations of [3H]nimodipine in plasma and brain structures, corrected for metabolism of nimodipine, were used to calculate the regional volumes of distribution (V) in the ischemic left (L) and control right (R) hemispheres. Log (VL/VR) was then defined as the group mean of the logarithms of the left-to-right ratio of V of [3H]nimodipine. In the lateral caudate, binding of [3H]nimodipine on the ischemic side was highest within 5 min of occlusion. Log (VL/VR) in this region for the combined sham-operated and normal control rats and those after 5 min and 4 and 24 h of ischemia were -0.014 +/- 0.025, 0.137 +/- 0.056*, -0.201 +/- 0.367, and -0.049 +/- 0.370 (mean +/- SD, *represents p less than 0.01 compared with controls). By contrast, in the superior frontal cortex, values for log (VL/VR) in the same sequence were -0.016 +/- 0.025, 0.028 +/- 0.056, 0.284 +/- 0.228*, and 0.224 +/- 0.069*, thus showing a significant rise in [3H]nimodipine binding only at 4 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The effects of a calcium antagonist, nimodipine, upon physiological responses of the cerebral vasculature and its possible influence upon focal cerebral ischaemia

The effects of a calcium antagonist, nimodipine, were tested on the response of the cerebral circulation to arterial pCO2 and blood pressure changes. The effects of reduced blood flow upon oedema formation and extracellular ion homeostasis under nimodipine preloading were studied. Both open and closed skull primate models were used, with alpha-chloralose anaesthesia. Nimodipine infusion increased basal blood flow in the open skull, but not the closed skull animals. Autoregulation to increased blood pressure was little affected. Responses to arterial pCO2 changes and autorerulation to reduced blood pressure were severely imparied. Residual blood flow after middle cerebral artery occlusion was significantly higher with nimodipine than in controls. The threshold levels of blood flow for the development of cortical oedema and for disturbance of ion homeostasis were, however, increased, suggesting that nimodipine interferes with cellular energy metabolism and increases the susceptibility of tissue to ischaemic damage.     

Mitochondrial metabolism following bilateral cerebral ischemia in the gerbil

Following periods of bilateral cerebral ischemia in urethane-anesthetized Mongolian gerbils, the metabolism of isolated brain mitochondria was assessed in an in vitro oxygenated medium in the presence of the substrates glutamate-malate. Mitochondria from both control and ischemic brains were well coupled. Urethane-anesthetized controls showed an early mild depression and a subsequent enhancement of State 3 respiration (ADP present) relative to awake controls. Respiratory activity in State 3, calculated per mol of cytochrome oxidase, was first depressed below control values following 60 minutes of ischemia; and a further decline, to 46 to 58% of control values, followed 90 to 120 minutes of ischemia. Mitochondrial calcium ion accumulation was depressed by ischemia of 2 hours in moribund animals. In contrast, a significant degree of cerebral edema was observed with ischemia of only 30 minutes' duration. Respiration of brain mitochondria appears relatively resistant to irreversible impairment following cerebral ischemia.     

Effect of dexamethasone on experimental cerebral infarction in the gerbil

Cerebral infarction was produced in the gerbil by ligation of one common carotid artery. The mortality from the lesion was significantly reduced by the daily administration of dexamethasone in the first 48 hours after surgery.     

神经节苷脂GM_1对脑缺血脑保护作用的实验探讨

用神经节苷脂GM_1治疗实验性局灶性脑缺血大鼠,结果显示脑Na~ —K~ —ATP酶活性明显恢复,脑水肿明显减轻,光镜与电镜观察神经节苷脂GM_1治疗组鼠脑神经毡无明显水肿,病灶区大多数神经元及胶质细胞未见不可逆性损害,病理学改变明显较脑缺血生理盐水对照组轻,提示神经节苷脂GM_1对局灶性脑缺血性损害有一定的脑保护作用。     

An experimental study on the protective effect of nizofenone in cerebral ischemia

Using the "canine model of complete ischemic brain regulated with a perfusion method" in which it is possible to control the degree of blood flow to a cerebral hemisphere via a perfusion pump, the protective effects of nizofenone against cerebral ischemia was investigated. After pre-treatment with nizofenone, blood flow was reduced via the pump to 1/10 of the normal state and 1 hour later, return to the normal state was allowed. Subsequent changes in EEG activity were observed and the effect of nizofenone evaluated. In the control group, no recovery of EEG was seen following recirculation, but in the group treated with nizofenone, gradual emergence of slow waves was observed. And the degree of recovery of EEG was better in the group administered a large dosage than in those given a low dosage. Our study suggested that within the dose ranges tested, nizofenone ameliorated ischemic brain damage in a dose dependent fashion. But the application of this experimental results to the human clinical situation requires that particular note should be paid to the dangers of transient fall of blood pressure at higher dosages.     

Effect of propentofylline on cerebral blood flow in a gerbil focal cerebral ischemia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuroprotection and improvement of cerebral blood flow are two basic principles of pharmacological intervention in acute stroke. Propentofylline, an adenosine uptake and phosphodiesterase inhibitor, has been shown to be neuroprotective in various models of cerebral ischemia. However, its effect on cerebral circulation in ischemic conditions is not yet fully elucidated. Present experiments were designed to investigate the effect of propentofylline on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the gerbil permanent focal cerebral ischemia model. METHODS: Focal cerebral ischemia in gerbils was produced by clipping one common carotid artery and contralateral external carotid artery. rCBF was measured in both parietal cortices concurrently by the hydrogen clearance. RESULTS: Propentofylline at 10 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally 30 min after induction of cerebral ischemia significantly increased rCBF in ischemic regions (increase of 94.6%). Effects were dose dependent. Higher dosage (30 mg/kg) induced reductions of ischemic rCBF, which were associated with significant decreases of mean arterial blood pressure. Lower dosage (5 mg/kg) was without significant effect. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that propentofylline at suitable dosage improves rCBF in ischemic brain areas. Taking into account neuroprotective potentials of propentofylline, results offer additional rationale for clinical trials investigating efficacy of propentofylline in treatment of acute stroke.     

Beneficial effect of nimodipine on metabolic and functional disturbances in rabbit hippocampus following complete cerebral ischemia

We investigated the effects of intravenous application of nimodipine on the neurophysiologic, biochemical, and morphologic consequences of 15 minutes of global cerebral ischemia in seven rabbits. In vivo dialysis of the hippocampus was used to determine changes in extracellular concentrations of extracellular calcium and amino acids and blood-brain barrier permeability. Ischemia without treatment produced a rapid disappearance of electroencephalographic activity, a decrease in the concentration of extracellular calcium, the release of neuroactive amino acids, and leakage of methionine to the tissue fluid, plus a significant increase of the blood-brain barrier permeability to fluorescein. Except for permeability and electroencephalographic activity, these parameters normalized during 45 minutes of recirculation; permeability and activity failed to normalize completely during 3 hours of recirculation. After 3 hours of recirculation, morphologic changes in the CA1 hippocampal area were observed. Treatment with nimodipine significantly enhanced electroencephalographic activity recovery and normalization during recirculation, reduced the decrease in extracellular calcium concentration, and prevented the increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Nimodipine protected the CA1 area from early morphologic changes and reduced leakage of methionine from brain cells. The beneficial cytoprotective effect of nimodipine, probably related to normalization of calcium homeostasis and blood-brain barrier permeability after ischemia, may reflect both vascular and cellular sites of action.